Rail-joint.



JOSEPH .WITTE OF WABASHA, MINNESOTA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters .'E'atent.v

Patented nee. 25, 1906;

Application'led April 18. 1906. Serial No. 312.502.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnPH WITTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wabasha, in the county of Wabasha and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved form of rail-joint of the scarf type, the essential feature of the invention residing in the specific construction of the rail ends whereby the same may be quickly and easily .connected and whereby the general rigidity of the rails at the point of jointure is promoted. v

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view showing rails connected together by means of and in accordance with the invention. Fig.. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal section. Fig. 3 is la detail combined perspective view showing more clearly the exact formation of the rail ends.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the invention, the numeral 1 designates one of the rails, and the numeral 2 a second rail, the end of which is adapted to be connected to an end of the first-'mentioned rail 1. In carrying out the invention the rail ends are formed peculiarly to admit of connecting the same. The rail 1 is provided in the ball or head portion thereof with a longitudinal recess 3, the inner end of which is enlarged and vertically forming a depression 4, extending below the bottom of the main portion of said recess. In vertical alinement with the recess 3 and near the base o f the rail 1 is formed another recess 5, the

latter extending inwardly from vthe end of the rail beneath the recess 3.

In order to fit against and connect with the rail 1, rail 2 is formed with an integral extension 6, projecting from its ball or head portion and having its top flush with the surface of the rail, said extensionf being received in the recess 3 of rail 1. The outer end of the extension 6 is formed with a downwardlyextending projection 7, received in the depression 4 at the inner end of recess 3 and designed to establish an interlocking connection between the rails 1 and 2, permitting only of limited longitudinal movement of the'rails relative to` one another. In other Words, the length of the depression 4 is somewhat greater than that of the projection 7 and will therefore admit of slight longitudinal movement necessary in order to accommoi date for expansion and contraction of the rails incidental to changes in weather conditions. To further increase the rigidity of the rails at the point of jointure, a small vauxiliary extension 8 is formed with rail 2 and projects therefrom at a point below the extension so as to enter the auxiliary recess 5 in an-end of rail 1. Rail 1, however, is formed with narrow vertical tongues 9 at opposite sides of the recesses 3 and 5, said tongues 9 being adapted to enter vertical kerfs or `grooves 10 in the end of rail 2, said kerfs or grooves 1() being located on opposite sides of the extensions 6 and 8.

The interlocking connection established by the provision of the tongues 9 and kerfs 10, as well as the extensions and grooves hereinbefore described, is such as to provide a rigid' connection for the rails, at the same time permitting of ready disconnection or attachment thereof. Fastenings, such as bolts usually provided to secure fish-plates to the rails, are of courseV dispensed with in carrying out the invention, and this is of advantage for obvious reasons. The rails 1 and 2 may be enlarged at the ends, s o as not to weaken the same in view of thel special formation hereinbefore described. An opening 15 is jgrovided in the rail 1 and leads from the ase of the recess 4 to permit foreign matter such as water, dirt,- or the like-to escape from said recess. j v

I-Iaving thus described the invention,what is claimed as .new is 1. In a rail-joint, in combination, meeting ends of rails, one rail end being formed with a longitudinal recess in its ball or head portionand another recess near its base portion, anda second rail havin@ extensions projecting longitudinally therefrom to enter the recesses of the first-mentioned rail, the recessed rail end having spaced vertical tongues projecting therefrom on opposite sides of the recesses above mentioned, the second rail end having recesses on opposite sides of the extenions thereof to receive the tongues aforesai ICO IIO

2. In a rail-joint7 in combination,y meeting ends of rails, one rail end being formed with a. longitudinal recess in its ball or head portion and another recess near its base portion, a second rail having extensions projecting longitudinally therefrom to enter the recesses of the first-mentioned rail, the recessed rail end having spaced vertical tongues projecting therefrom on opposite sides of the recesses above mentioned, the second rail end having recesses on opposite sides of the eX- tensions thereof to receive the tongues aforesaid, the longitudinal recess in the iirst-mentioned rail being provided at its inner end with a vertical depression at its bottom portion, and a projection extending from the outer end of the tongue of the upper extension of the second-mentioned rail and entering the depression in the recess above inentioned to establish interlocking connection between the rail ends.

In testimony whereof I niiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH wir'rn [1i 8.]

Witnesses:

L. VHITMORE, H. I'I. WHrrMoRn. 

